Resources

Advance Directives

Advance directives are legal documents that state your health care wishes at the end of life. There are several versions of advance directives, but the most common include:

• Living will - provides instructions to your loved ones and physicians regarding what type of treatment you would or would not like if you are unable to speak for yourself, such as the use of feeding tubes, ventilators (breathing machines) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. In most states, you will be resuscitated and placed on a ventilator unless you put it in writing that you don't want to be. Make your loved ones and doctors aware of your wishes and post them near your bedside.
• Medical power of attorney or health care proxy (agent) - names someone who will make health care decisions if you are unable to.

It is important that you share your advance directives with your doctor and loved ones. Also, be aware that laws and options for advance directives vary by state. Learn about the laws for the state or states in which you live by visiting Caring Connections.

You can have an attorney complete advance directive documents for you as part of your will, but you can also write them up yourself. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization's (NHPCO) Caring Connections, and Google Health^TM have come together to increase the availability and accessibility of advance care planning information and resources online. A new feature on Google Health^TM allows users to download a free, state-specific advance directive and store the scanned documents securely online.

You can download an advance directive tool kit from the group Compassion & Choices, which focuses on improving care and choice at the end of life.

Another site to visit for more detailed information about advance directives and how to develop yours is Caring Connections.
Because these documents often don't adequately cover everything, other documents have been developed, including the Five Wishes. Referred to as "the living will with a heart and soul" it was developed by the not-for-profit organization Aging with Dignity to cover legal end of life health care issues as well as addressing issues of comfort, spirituality and final wishes. The document is legal in 40 states. The Five Wishes cover:

• Which person you want to make health care decisions for you when you can't make them.
• The kind of medical treatment you want or don't want.
• How comfortable you want to be.
• How you want people to treat you.
• What you want your loved ones to know.

For more information about the Five Wishes, visit Aging With Dignity.

There are other legal issues to consider at the end of life, particularly financial ones. You'll need to decide many things, including funeral and burial arrangements, and how they will be paid for, as well as ensuring your will, trust or other legal documents are up to date and accessible. Detailed information on these and many other issues is included in the brochure "A Guide to Legal Issues in Life-Limiting Conditions," available on Caring Connections.